Bill Text: IL SB0168 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Enrolled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Amends the Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act. Provides that the Mississippi River Coordinating Council shall include a standing subcommittee called the Mississippi River Parkway Subcommittee (the Subcommittee). Provides that the Subcommittee shall consist of 6 public members residing within counties in the State that are adjacent to the Mississippi River and ex-officio members from the State with specific knowledge of the Mississippi River. Provides that the chairperson of the Mississippi River Coordinating Council shall appoint the Subcommittee members and that the Subcommittee members shall be non-voting members of the Council. Sets forth the duties of the Subcommittee. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2011-07-22 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 97-0178 [SB0168 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SB0168-Enrolled.html

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AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act
is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, and 20 as follows:
(20 ILCS 4003/10)
Sec. 10. Mississippi River Coordinating Council.
(a) There is established the Mississippi River
Coordinating Council (Council), consisting of 16 13 voting
members to be appointed by the Governor. One member shall be
the Lieutenant Governor who shall serve as a voting member and
as chairperson of the Council. The agency members of the
Council shall include the Directors, or their designees, of the
following: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, the
Historic Preservation Agency, and the Department of
Transportation. In addition, the Council shall include one
member representing Soil and Water Conservation Districts
located in the proximity of the Mississippi River and its
tributaries, and 8 6 members representing local communities,
not-for-profit organizations working to protect the
Mississippi River and its tributaries, businesses,

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agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment, 2
of which must reside within a county that is adjacent to the
Mississippi River.
(b) The Governor may appoint, as ex-officio members,
individuals representing the interests of the states who border
the Mississippi River and individuals representing federal
agencies.
(c) Members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms, except
that of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed
to serve 3-year terms and 4 members to serve one-year terms.
(d) The Council shall meet at least quarterly.
(e) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be
responsible for the operations of the Council, including,
without limitation, funding and oversight of the Council's
activities. The Office may reimburse members of the Council for
travel expenses.
(f) This Section is subject to the provisions of Section
405-500 of the Department of Central Management Services Law.
(g) The members of the Council shall appoint one member of
the Council to serve as the Illinois representative to the
National Mississippi River Parkway Commission.
(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
(20 ILCS 4003/15)
Sec. 15. Duties of the Council.
(a) The Council shall:

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(1) periodically review activities and programs
administered by State and federal agencies that directly
impact the Mississippi River and its tributaries;
(2) work with local communities and organizations to
encourage partnerships that enhance awareness and
capabilities to address watershed and water resource
concerns and to encourage strategies that protect,
restore, and expand critical habitats and soil
conservation and water quality practices;
(3) work with State and federal agencies to optimize
the expenditure of funds affecting the Mississippi River
and its tributaries;
(4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor and
State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure
of appropriated funds affecting the Mississippi River and
its tributaries;
(5) encourage local communities to develop water
management plans to address stormwater, erosion, flooding,
sedimentation, and pollution problems and encourage
projects for the natural conveyance and storage of
floodwaters, the enhancement of wildlife habitat and
outdoor recreation opportunities, the recovery,
management, and conservation of the Mississippi River and
its tributaries, the preservation of farmland, prairies,
and forests, and the use of measurable economic development
efforts that are compatible with the ecological health of

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the State; and
(6) help identify possible sources of additional
funding for Mississippi River water management projects
and projects and activities related to the Great River
Road, a national scenic and recreational highway.
(b) Subject to appropriation, the Council may pay for a
membership to the National Mississippi River Commission.
(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
(20 ILCS 4003/20)
Sec. 20. Agency duties. State agencies represented on the
Council shall provide to the Council, on request, information
concerning agency programs, data, and activities that impact
the restoration and preservation of the Mississippi River and
its tributaries. The Secretary of Transportation, the Director
of Agriculture, the Director of the Environmental Protection
Agency, the Director of Historic Preservation, the Director of
Natural Resources, and the Director of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity shall each designate at least one employee from his
or her respective agency to assist the Council.
(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.